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"Welcome to the Team, Part One" was the sixteenth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine comic book series.
Synopsis
In the streets of San Francisco, zompires attacked a man and forced it to drink their blood to infect him. Buffy interrupted them though, but she was bested by the zompires in a fight. Luckily, Dowling and Billy were there to help stake two, while the third, their leader, got away. Billy wanted to give chase, but Buffy reminded him that his grandmother only allowed him to stay if she skyped her at every sunrise to let her know he was okay. Dowling expressed concern that Buffy had gotten hurt, but Buffy shrugged it off, although she did note that the leader had been exceptionally strong. While Billy and Dowling made plans to research this notion, Buffy commented that they had become a team.
Elsewhere, Dawn was throwing up in her bathroom. Xander came in and asked what was wrong. Dawn wasn't sure, but she liked that he took care of her.
Back at Buffy's apartment, Anaheed was snooping through boxes of Buffy's stuff, when Buffy and Billy came in. It turned out Anaheed was just looking for a dress. Buffy used the opportunity to pay rent ahead for the next six months and then she and Anaheed went to watch TV, while Billy hit the books.
Later, Buffy stopped by Dawn and Xander's to see how her sister was feeling. She brought peanut butter, which Dawn was allergic to, but somehow Buffy had forgotten. While Dawn had to throw up again Xander had a look at Buffy's injuries. Buffy explained that her accelerated healing was not working too well because she had been injured with a mystical blade. Then Dowling called, signalling Buffy that he had found a nest. Xander teased that it may be a love nest instead of a vampire nest, but Dawn bluntly stated that Buffy would not be interested in someone like Dowling because he was not a vampire, but then she too began teasing Buffy that she had been texting him. Buffy protested that it would be wrong because he was (practically) a Scooby too, but Dawn reminded her that that had never been an issue. As Buffy left, they both confirmed that they liked the guy.
A little while later, Buffy met up with Dowling just after dark. She told him that Xander and Dawn thought they were dating, to which he said he was glad she did, because they weren't (yet), but then he asked her out on a date (sort of). Then Billy caught up with them. He had brought a lasso drenched in holy water as a special weapon to capture the lead zompire. Buffy thought it was a good idea, but she wanted to wield it herself.
Inside they battled a horde of zompires, including the strong leader. While Billy and Downling slayed the weaker minions, Buffy focused on the leader. In spite of the rope, the leader managed to fight Buffy off. Then Buffy realized she knew this person before she had been a zompire. While she was saying that, she was suddenly teleported elsewhere. The leader jumped onto Dowling and bit him in his neck.
Meanwhile, Buffy found herself on a rooftop overlooking Los Angeles. The one responsible for this spoke to her telling her that she represented a Council, not the watcher's, but something more important, asking Buffy to join, because her actions had caused irrevocable changes for the worse in the world. Buffy wondered how it was possible that this person teleported her, given there was no magic. The person revealed that such were the powers she had inside her. That person was Illyria.
Continuity
The story was set after "Billy the Vampire Slayer, Part Two", but before "TBA".
- Buffy's potential romance with Dowling was revealed. Hints of this had earlier shown through Spike's observation that Dowling may be attracted to her in On Your Own.
- Buffy and Xander continue to convientantly forget aspects of Dawn, such as her birthday in Freefall, Part Three. It also concides to when Willow had seen Xander, Buffy, and Dawn discussing through a portal which was actually the scene when they were discussing Dowling. Foreshadowing of Dawn having issues was in Wonderland, Part Two where she had explictly seen her faceless in a vision.
- This issue was the first time Illyria had ever crossed over in the entirty of the Buffy franchcise. Concidently, it was also the first time Buffy and Illyria had ever meet formally.
- Dawn claimed that she was allergic to peanuts, something neither Buffy or Xander seemed to remember. Oddly, Dawn had made a peanut butter quesdilla in 'Wrecked'.
Appearances
Individuals
- Buffy Summers
- Robert Dowling
- Billy Lane
- Sky (Only mentioned)
- Xander Harris
- Dawn Summers
- Anaheed
- Tumble (Only mentioned)
- Kennedy (Only mentioned)
- Illyria
Organizations and Titles
- Council
- Slayer
Species
Events
Locations
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Vahla ha'nesh(Only mentioned)
Weapons and Objects
Death Count
Behind the Scenes
Collections
Pop Culture References
- Dawn and Xander had several minifigures from popular media franchises: a Dalek (from Doctor Who), Captain America and others less well visible.
- Buffy calls a particular zompire "Little Miss stay-out-of-sunshine", a reference to the film, Little Miss Sunshine.
Quotes
| “ | Buffy Summers: "I think we're officially a team." | |
| - "Welcome to the Team, Part One" | ” | |
| “ | Buffy Summers: "Is there a third option?" | |
| - "Welcome to the Team, Part One" | ” | |